Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-01


PART m-CHAPTER I.-CoErrsuEp.
One of them hobbled out pace, and
with the bashfulness of a schoolboy
addressed her:
Pardon me, Miss Helen, if you
please = but have you heard any
thing from you father, the Captain?'
No, Tom = I'm sorry to say
haven't she replied.
A few steps further brought her to
the door where her mother was stand.
ing. They exchanged chances, nc
more was needed. Mrs Willis knew
that there was no news. The great
cruel ocean held its secrets, if secrets
it had, about Helen's father, and an
other of whom Helen wished to hear.
Both went into the sitting-room OF
the house. Like each of the four rooms
which Captain Willis had repaired and
redeemed from the general wreck and
ruin of the old home. It was not only
furnished but finished off with an eye
to luxury as web as comfort.
The mother and daughter both sat
down, and for few moments each was
silent. What Captain Willis had said
to Crawford on the day of his death. as
to his relations with these two women,
was strictly truthful. 1t could not
have been otherwise; it was the state
ment of the rough, honest sailors
heart, revealed under the shadow of
death. They might have loved him
better had he been able to give more
time from his ship and her voyages, to
devote to them. AS it was, they
looked upon him as their hero, their
providence on earth. Their thoughts
were turned toward him now.
1--WE shouldn't be so anxious,
MOTHER" Helen said, after a painful
pause. "The Nellie isn't much over
due"
''That is true" Mrs. Willis replied,
''and she has sometimes been longer
than this between here and Havana;
but some way the thought don't seem
to give me any comfort now. I've
never believed much in signs and fore
runners, but I've had such bad dreams
lately, and always about your father.
Three nights in succession 1 have seen
the ship in my sleep. She seemed to
be drifting over the sea, with only one
man aboard. And who do you think
it WASP"
'FatherP'
"No-Louis Hunter"
An exclamation from Helen startled
Mrs. Willis, and when she saw its cause,
she was startled herself. The person
she had just named stood in the door
way, cap in hand and smiling.
"Good-day, ladies'" he said. ST
know I must be welcome, for I Just
heard my name spoken by one of you.
/ trust you won't be so ungracious as
to repeat the old saying about the con-
sequences of speaking of certain
nameless person"
1--WE are surprised to see you here,
of course" Mrs. Willis said, with evil
dent constraint.
'.And you're surprised, too, Helen"
he asked.
Il did not expect to see you again
50 soon," was her evasive reply. The
dislike and repugnance expressed in
her face she neither wished nor was
able to conceal.
'.Helen told me what occurred be-
tween you and her." said the mother.
''Since you have come back, plain
speaking is best. Nobody knew where
you had gone when you disappeared so
suddenly from Provincetown, and 1
supposed at first that your disappoint-
ment with Helen had>axSpething to do
with il"
"Of course it had. / thought my
absence for time might cause her to
change her mind"
He looked inquiringly in the direc-
ton of his hopes. He probably saw
enough there to speedily convince him
that there had been no change.
Mrs. Willis face now assumed an
expression of severity that was rare
with her.
"I must talk rery plainly to you.
Louis" she said. II don't know
what brings you back. nor where you
have been, nor am / pleased to see you
here; for you must know that your
presence here is annoying to Helen.
She told me of the engagement she
had contracted at Boston when she
came back, and approved of it; but 1
must tell you that, had nothing of that
kind stood in the way, there could
never have been any hope for you with
her. Her father has always treated
YOU with great kindness, because you
were adopted by the sister he loved;
but neither he nor have been blind to
your defects of character nor to your
vices. / have tried to treat you well
because my husband asked me to; but
[ will not pretend that l have in the
least overcome my dislike to you. Ii
Helen shares in thus feeling I can only
say that it is perfectly natural You
went away without giving me chance
10 saw this to you; but now that you
have come back on so foolish an errand
rs that which seems to bring you, feel
that can not say it too quick, both for
Helen's sake and for your own good:
It may save you embarrassment ana
pain"
The subject of this very plain lesson
rad not been invited to sit down; but
he omission did not discompose hm
INV more than the reproof. He talked
in the old rocker, regard
NO Mrs. Willis as though she were
cling some interesting incident, with
which he was not connected. when
The paused, he carelessly asked:
"Aren't you little hard on me-! Il
"I said.'' resumed she. shat